Chapter 90: Chapter:87
If you knew how to control it, would you still need to go to such trouble?"
Uzumaki Mito, who had been well-educated since childhood, became furious when Izuna scolded her like this. She snorted, "You don't understand people with good intentions. I'm just reminding you. If anyone from the Uzumaki clan…"
At that moment, Uzumaki Mito realized she had said something she shouldn't have and quickly stopped talking.
"What did you say?"
Izuna immediately picked up on the unusual tone in Mito's voice and asked suspiciously.
"Nothing, I'm going to sleep."
Mito pretended to be annoyed, pulled the quilt over herself, and hid her face under it. After lying quietly for some time, she noticed that Izuna wasn't moving. She cautiously loosened a corner of the blanket and peeked out with one eye.
She saw Izuna practicing again.
"He's not trying to control me?" Mito frowned slightly, puzzled. She had already prepared herself to be subjected to Izuna's Sharingan, but to her surprise, he didn't make any moves to manipulate her.
Meanwhile, at the front lines of the battlefield, the Uchiha clan was locked in combat with the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. In a temporary camp, Uchiha Inosuke had a Ninja Eagle perched on his shoulder, responsible for delivering messages. Striding into Madara's tent, he reported, "Clan leader, a secret message has arrived from the deputy clan leader's Ninja Eagle."
Madara, who was studying a map, raised his head quickly and gestured for the bird to fly over. The Ninja Eagle flapped its wings and landed on his arm, revealing a message hidden at its ankle. Madara read it carefully, his fists clenching tighter with each line.
After reading the letter, Madara quickly grabbed a pen and paper and wrote a response at an extraordinary speed.
"Deliver this letter to Uchiha Retsu at Mountain front as fast as possible," Madara commanded, sealing the envelope and handing it to Inosuke.
"Yes," Uchiha Inosuke replied with a nod.
"And one more thing," Madara added gravely, "Notify all clan members to retreat!"
Just as Uzumaki Mito had foreseen, Senju Hashirama, with the help of Senju Tobirama's Flying Thunder God technique, was able to avoid the watchful eyes of the Uchiha and the other clans. They bypassed enemy territory and made their way toward the Sarutobi and Shimura clans' stronghold.
However, even with Tobirama's space-time ninjutsu, it still took them considerable time to get there, meaning they only arrived now. To complicate matters further, the Shimura and Sarutobi clan's lands were backed by steep mountains, making any kind of direct attack from behind nearly impossible without collective teleportation via the Flying Thunder God.
Standing at the summit of the mountain, Senju Hashirama looked down at the ant-sized base of the two clans below.
"We're here, brother," Senju Tobirama announced.
Hashirama gazed down at the battlefield, then turned to Tobirama. "No more delays. Let's go."
"Wait," Tobirama interjected, planting a Flying Thunder God kunai between two rocks. "We need a failsafe in case things go south."
Although they were confident in their upcoming negotiations, Tobirama was always cautious. If the talks broke down, they could still escape using the Flying Thunder God technique.
Hashirama didn't argue with Tobirama's cautious nature. Once they were ready, the two brothers made their descent toward the Shimura and Sarutobi stronghold.
Inside the clan's compound, Sarutobi Furukawa was in utter disbelief as he received the latest intelligence report. "What did you say!? The Uchiha forces have retreated?"
Shimura Keizo, who had rushed back from the front lines, confirmed it. "Yes, Furukawa. I was just as surprised when I heard, but I saw it with my own eyes. Last evening, Uchiha Madara led the entire Uchiha army, along with the Watanabe, Fuma, Onikawa, and Saito clans, and they've all withdrawn. They are now a hundred miles away from our borders."
Furukawa's face was still full of disbelief.
The Sarutobi and Shimura clans had been at a disadvantage in the battle, desperately holding their ground. Most of their Jonin had been sent to the front lines to resist the Uchiha forces, and until yesterday, the fight had been at a stalemate, though the Uchiha had the upper hand. For the Uchiha to suddenly pull back was inexplicable.
"Could this be the result of Senju's operation?" one of the Jonin in the room suggested.
Upon hearing this, Furukawa and the others began to agree. It made sense. If Senju had made a move, then Uchiha would have no choice but to withdraw and deal with their old rival.
"That would explain it," Keizo murmured. "Though I find it strange that our intelligence network didn't pick up any signs of Senju forces mobilizing."
Another ninja chimed in, "Maybe Uchiha received word ahead of time."
"Whatever the case," Furukawa said firmly, "this retreat is a blessing for us."
"What should we do next?" Keizo asked.
"Recuperate and strengthen our forces. We must prepare the next generation for future battles," Furukawa concluded, his tone serious.
Though the immediate threat had passed, both the Sarutobi and Shimura clans knew this peace was only temporary. In the chaotic world of ninja clans, old rivalries ran deep, and the next clash was always just around the corner.
(End of the chapter.)
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